Latest news with #sideshow
CBS News
16-06-2025
- CBS News
Oakland police: Multiple car fires reported during weekend sideshows
Oakland police responded to several sideshows at various locations around the city early Sunday morning. Police didn't say where the sideshows were, or how many, but as officers approached the first one, the vehicles and spectators moved to other areas. Also, three vehicles were set on fire around the same time and at least one fire was connected to the sideshows, police said. Officers gave out 10 citations, towed three vehicles and will follow up to identify other vehicles that were involved in order to track them down and tow them, as well, according to police. Anyone with information is asked to contact the OPD Traffic Section at (510)777-8570. Photos and videos can be sent to cidvideos@
Daily Mail
16-06-2025
- Daily Mail
Infamous Dem-run city descends into Mad Max hellscape as streets are filled with apocalyptic races and explosions
Oakland was once again turned into a dystopian Mad Max-style hellscape as cars and fireworks exploded during multiple street takeovers in the Democrat-run city. At least one person was left critically injured as several major intersections were shut down by street 'sideshows' in the early hours of Sunday morning. Numerous cars were set ablaze, fireworks were thrown and businesses were vandalized as at least three unsanctioned car shows took over the California city. Hundreds of feral onlookers cheered and screamed as the city descended into lawlessness in scenes reminiscent of the post-apocalyptic movies starring Mel Gibson. 'It's crazy,' Oakland resident Santana Beltran told KTVU. 'They're just running around, and it smells like strip rubber.' 'I'm concerned about my safety and my family. We live close by here,' she added to the outlet as she stood near the scene of one of the shows. Footage from the sideshows saw a blue Chevy Camaro covered in spray paint, crashed and then set alight before exploding into a fireball. A silver Infiniti with a missing back wheel spun donuts nearby as onlookers whooped with excitement at the exceptionally disturbing scene. It is unclear if the trashed cars were stolen. Reports indicate that one person was critically injured at the car shows, however it is unclear how they were wounded, and no arrests were made. Residents said the violent illegal car races have been an issue for years but officials and law enforcement fail to crack down on them, with cops admitting they are too overwhelmed to bring them to an end. The sideshows on the weekend followed a day of protesting in Oakland that mirrored anti-ICE protests in Los Angeles. The protests in Oakland were met with a large law enforcement presence after the LA demonstrations descended into violence and chaos in recent weeks, which have caused significant damage to the city. Police in Oakland say they were already understaffed and overwhelmed, with the Oakland Police Department struggling to keep the car sideshows from continually causing destruction. Oakland's police department has been mired in scandal after scandal. Until recently, the city was run by soft-on-crime, 'equity'-focused Mayor Sheng Thao and her equally progressive District Attorney Pamela Price. Both women were booted during a recall in November 2024, but Oakland continues to struggle to find its feet under new mayor Barbara Lee. Recent video shows that horrific blocks-long shanty towns occupied by the homeless and drug-addled have been cleared in Oakland - but the weekend's violence shows that the city still has a long way to go. A spokesperson for the Oakland Police Officer's Association, Sam Singer, said on Monday that the destruction on Sunday morning was 'symbolic of the mayhem that residents are experiencing' in the California city. 'The police are outgunned, they're outmanned,' Singer said. 'It's very sad, it's very concerning. Oakland is out of control, and it's likely going to get much worse this summer.' The police representative said the city urgently needs more officers to bring the violence under control, with more street sideshows springing up on a near-weekly basis. Sunday's chaos was first reported to cops at around 2am when smoke filled the skies as several cars were set on fire, but they were not cleared by officers until over two hours later. The next morning, tire tracks covered the streets and a number of businesses were destroyed. One such business, the New York Buffet, was damaged in the violent episode and was left with graffiti and vandalism. 'I see my manager's face, and they're kind of just very disappointed,' one employee at the restaurant, who didn't want to be named, told KTVU. 'Ultimately, it's a business. It's a lifestyle. It is a living. So for it to happen to them, it is very unfortunate... There's more graffiti written on the walls and their windows.' No arrests were made at the street races, with the Oakland Police Department setting up blocks on the intersection to re-establish peace at around 4:30am Sunday. Fire crews were dispatched to the area, and up to five crews were working to extinguish car fires through the night.
Yahoo
09-06-2025
- Yahoo
Roughly 250 cars pushed out of Vallejo during sideshow busts: PD
Roughly 250 cars chased out of Vallejo during sideshow busts: Police (KRON) — Authorities broke up multiple sideshows involving roughly 250 cars around Vallejo Saturday night. The Vallejo Police Department, the California Highway Patrol, and the Solano County Sheriff's Office teamed up to stop the car rallies around 11:15 p.m. By 12:40 a.m., the sideshows, which were held by 'unexpected out-of-town visitors,' Vallejo PD said, were pushed out of the city. Man shot twice by armed robber in Petaluma: PD Seven cars were towed, six people were fined and one person was arrested during the operation. The person was arrested for 'interfering with officers performing their duties,' Vallejo PD said. The people who were cited or arrested were from multiple cities, including Hayward, West Sacramento, Winters, Oakland and Fairfield, Vallejo PD said. 'Vallejo is not a place for this type of activity,' Vallejo PD said. 'Vallejo PD will continue to work with allied agencies to prevent sideshows, hold participants accountable, and keep our streets safe.' Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
08-06-2025
- Yahoo
Kansas City police stop potential sideshow during First Friday; enforcement continues
KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Kansas City police officers assigned to the city's entertainment districts on First Friday broke up a potential sideshow in a nearby area. According to KCPD, one man who had warrants and was driving with his gun on the passenger seat was arrested. Another man now has a tow fee of at least $500 for his tricks. 'We value the safety of the people who are here and visiting and would appreciate and do respect the police for helping us out in that aspect,' said Colin Aubuchon, who lives in the Crossroads. Watch FOX4 News free on streaming TV devices by downloading WDAF+ Over the last several weeks, KCPD's Entertainment District plan has resulted in dozens of arrests related to ATVs, sideshows, street racing, and other dangerous and illegal activities in busy areas, such as the Crossroads. 'We do understand and respect anybody being able to do what they want to. But at the same time, it is kind of an inconvenience for the people who live down here and at midnight or one in the morning when we have to go to work the next day, it's kind of inconvenient for us to wake up to all the street racing, ATVs, dirt bikes going around,' Aubuchon explained. Street racing has been an ongoing issue in the Crossroads and other entertainment districts around Kansas City. 'It has been a rising issue. Our art studio and gallery are right here, and we hear it all the time,' said Mark Allen, who works in the Crossroads. 'There are loud cars that are coming through, especially here on 18th Street. They're going really fast.' Allen said he wasn't aware of any racing issues Friday night but said it has been a concern during First Fridays in the past. 'I'm less concerned now because they used to close off all the streets, and I think that's when it became a bigger issue because there were more people congregating,' Allen said. 'I didn't notice the sideshow (Friday night); we were in the gallery the whole time, so we didn't necessarily hear it. But I wouldn't be surprised.' He said while some speed-slowing measures have helped, racing remains a significant concern. 'I don't know what the answer is. It's definitely a growing issue,' Allen said. 'I think that these (speed-slowing measures) have helped somewhat slow the speed of people coming through, but it's a huge issue, and I don't think enough is being done.' KCPD said the increased police presence in entertainment districts will remain in place. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Auto Blog
07-06-2025
- Auto Blog
Street Takeover Participants & Spectators Could Soon Be Hit With Steep Fines
Doubling the fine — and applying it spectators — is L.A. County's latest tactic for quelling late-night sideshows before someone else gets hurt. L.A. County wants to curb the chaos Street takeovers — where crowds block off intersections so drivers can pull stunts like donuts, burnouts, and drifts — have become a hallmark of Southern California's underground car culture. But now, L.A. County is drawing a hard line. A new proposal would double the fine for participating in or even watching a takeover, raising it from $500 to $1,000, the Los Angeles Times reported. The idea isn't just to hit drivers in the wallet; it's also aimed at the crowd. Spectators fuel the vibe, create cover for drivers, and generate social media content that keeps the trend alive. By making it costly just to show up, officials hope to tamp down the spectacle altogether. The scene's not just sketchy — it's getting deadly Takeovers might look like Fast & Furious-style fun, but they've turned increasingly dangerous. County officials point to a rise in fatal crashes, shootings, and torched vehicles tied to these events. In some neighborhoods, families say they hear engines bouncing off rev limiters just blocks from their front doors. Supervisor Holly Mitchell, whose district includes cities like Compton, Inglewood, and Carson, introduced the measure and stated that the issue is personal for many residents. In one recent tragedy, a woman in Pomona was killed during a suspected street-racing crash. Stories like that have become too common. The crackdown extends to your feed The proposed ordinance doesn't stop with street-level enforcement. It also calls on social media platforms to enforce their own community standards and remove content that promotes illegal activity, specifically, takeover clips that rack up views and ad dollars. Officials want platforms to demonetize those videos and cut off the oxygen that keeps the culture going viral. A surge in takeovers, but only in some places Interestingly, while street takeover reports have dropped in most of L.A. County, Mitchell's district saw a sharp rise — from 191 incidents between July and September to 297 from October through December. County officials credit some of the decline elsewhere to a coordinated task force that includes law enforcement, city leaders, and community groups working to intervene early and redesign problem intersections. Mitchell's district is still playing catch-up, and that's part of why she's pushing hard for tougher penalties. Autoblog Newsletter Autoblog brings you car news; expert reviews and exciting pictures and video. Research and compare vehicles, too. Sign up or sign in with Google Facebook Microsoft Apple By signing up I agree to the Terms of Use and acknowledge that I have read the Privacy Policy . You may unsubscribe from email communication at anytime. Why car enthusiasts everywhere should care If you're a car enthusiast, the rise in takeovers and the resulting crackdown might hit close to home, even if you're not in Southern California. Similar events have popped up across the country, and cities are watching each other to figure out what works. San Jose, Atlanta, Chicago, and Houston are all places that have seen sideshows spark community backlash and new legislation. Infiniti G37 drifting takeover Final thoughts The L.A. County Board of Supervisors gave the proposed fine increase a thumbs-up this week, but it still needs one more vote to become law. If approved, the new penalties could go into effect later this year. There's also talk of broader reforms — everything from hardened centerlines at takeover hotspots to possibly creating safe, legal alternatives for car enthusiasts. For now, though, the message is clear: if you're planning to show up at a sideshow in L.A., even just to watch, you might want to think twice. Your next post could come with a $1,000 price tag. About the Author Elijah Nicholson-Messmer View Profile
